Fitted sheet strap device

ABSTRACT

A sheet strap system is disclosed having a bottom sheet strap with Velcro corner straps that attach to securing band segments located at the inner corners of the fitted sheet. The mattress is tightly secured between the bottom sheet strap and the fitted sheet once the Velcro corner straps are in a folded locking position with the fitted sheet. The sheet strap system is safe, easy to construct, easy to apply and remove without any lifting of the mattress. The sheet strap system is particularly suited for use in conjunction with crib mattresses.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a bed sheet, and morespecifically to a sheet strap system that improves the safety of aninfant.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional bed sheets, and in particular crib sheets, do notadequately address issues of safety. Many infants die each year fromstrangulation by their own bed sheets. Infants can grasp the fabric ofthe sheet and roll, and wrap the fabric around their rib cages or necks.In the midst of the struggle, sheets can wind even tighter. Althoughmany young children have the ability to pull the material around them,many do not have the perception necessary to unwrap themselves. Theconsequences can become fatal, resulting in strangulation orsuffocation.

Bed sheets may also be a contributing factor leading to Sudden InfantDeath Syndrome, or SIDS. Although this syndrome is not fully understood,it is shown to be aggravated when babies breathe their own carbondioxide-rich exhaled air, which can collect under the baby's nose,especially if the baby has become wrapped in an ill-fitted bed sheet.Regardless of the outcomes, many parents have found their own childdangerously entangled in a bed sheet.

Many conventional sheets have single elastic bindings that do notadequately secure and anchor the fitted sheet to the mattress. A childcan pull poorly fitted sheets loose and become entrapped. Someconventional sheets, like an open-end pillowcase-type design, are of animpractical construction, requiring lifting and/or complete removal of amattress from a crib before the sheet can be applied. Additionally, somesheets incorporate zipping devices so that the entire mattress isencased within the sheet. In this case, not only must the mattress beremoved, but also the sharp portions of the zipper present a hazard tothe child.

It would be beneficial to provide a bed sheet that overcomes thedisadvantages of known sheets, including: (a) a loose or improper fit,(b) non-secure binding mechanisms, (c) deformable and non-washable meansfor securing the sheet to the mattress, (d) difficulty of construction,(e) difficulty in attachment and removal of sheet from mattress withouthaving to remove or lift the mattress from the crib, and (f) sharp ordangerous edges or binding or securing mechanisms. What is needed,therefore, is a sheet strap system for covering the crib mattress thatallows for safety of the infant, is cost effective, is easy and simpleto use and construct, is resilient and durable, and does not require anylifting of the mattress to assemble. It is to the provision of such asheet that the present invention is primarily directed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a sheet strap system that fits a mattresssecurely such that a person laying on the surface of the mattress cannotunintentionally remove it. In a preferred embodiment, the sheet strapsystem is designed to cover a crib mattress for an infant and othermattresses. The sheet strap system has a sheet strap with Velcro cornerstraps that attach to the securing band segments at the inner corners ofa fitted sheet to secure the fitted sheet to the mattress. The safe &easy sheet system is safe, especially for infants, cost effective, easyand simple to use and to construct, resilient and durable, and does notrequire any lifting of the mattress to assemble.

The sheet strap system has a sheet strap made of fabric material withVelcro corner straps. The Velcro corner straps have the ability totighten and release to secure the fitted sheet on to the mattress. Othersecuring means such as cinch, button, and hooks can be used in place ofVelcro. The corner straps extend through securing band segments attachedinside the corners of the fitted sheet to tightly secure the mattressbetween the fitted sheet and the sheet strap. Once the fitted sheet issecured by the corner straps the fitted sheet folds over the cornerstraps and the mattress to prevent unintentionally removed of the sheetby a person laying on the surface of the mattress. Once the sheet strapis in place assemble and removal of the fitted sheet does not requireany removal or lifting of the mattress.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a sheetstrap system that is safer and easier to assemble than conventionalfitted sheets. It is a further object of the present invention toprovide a sheet strap system that fits over a mattress snugly andsecurely such that it cannot be removed by a child or infant. Yet afurther object of the present invention is to provide a sheet strapsystem that is cost-effective to manufacture. Another object of thepresent invention is to provide a sheet strap system that can be appliedto and removed from a crib mattress and other mattress without anylifting of the mattress.

Further novel features and other objects of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a full understanding of the nature of the present invention,reference should be made to the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the preferred sheet strap with attached Velcrocorner straps, and a fitted sheet with inner securing band segments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is the bottom view of the Velcro corner strap of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an overall bottom view of the alternative sheet strap withVelcro ends of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a mattress between the preferred sheet strapwith Velcro corner straps, and a fitted sheet with securing bandsegments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a fitted sheet on top of a mattress on top of apreferred sheet strap of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a fitted sheet on top of a mattress on top of apreferred sheet strap with the Velcro corner straps secured to thesecuring band segments of the fitted sheet of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the fitted sheet folded over to cover themattress and the Velcro corner straps in a locking position of thepresent invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

2 preferred sheet strap

4 Velcro corner strap

6 fitted sheet

8 securing band segment

10 mattress

12 Velcro

14 alternative sheet strap

16 rectangular strap

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a sheet strap system having a preferred sheetstrap with Velcro corner straps and a fitted sheet with inner cornerattachments. The sheet strap system is easy to construct, easy to applyand remove without lifting the mattress, and is particularly suited foruse in conjunction with crib mattresses. Referring now to the Figures,in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the severalviews, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described.

FIG. 1 of the drawing shows a top view of the preferred embodiment of apreferred sheet strap 2 with Velcro corner straps 4. The Velcro 12 isattached to the bottom of the Velcro corner strap 4. The preferred sheetstrap 2 is constructed of a generally washable material such as cotton,cotton blend, or polyester. The preferred sheet strap 2 can beconstructed to be similar to the length and width of a standard bed orcrib mattress.

FIG. 1 of the drawing also shows a preferred embodiment of a fittedsheet 6 with securing band segments 8 located on the inner corners ofthe fitted sheet 6. Dimensions of the fitted sheets range from standardcrib mattresses (approximately 28 inches by 52 inches by 9 inches);newborn intensive care unit (approximately 20 inches by 26 inches by 6inches); play pens (approximately 27 inches by 39 inches); and standardadult size mattresses (twin, approximately 39 inches by 75 inches by 9inches; full, approximately 54 inches by 75 inches by 9 inches; queen,approximately 60 inches by 80 inches by 9 inches; king, approximately 76inches by 80 inches by 9 inches; California king, approximately 72inches by 84 inches by 9 inches).

The securing band segments 8 can be constructed of either elastic bandor washable material such as cotton, cotton blend, or polyester. Thesecuring band segments 8 can be rectangular in shape with dimensions ofapproximately 1 inch by 5 inches. The shape and dimensions of thesecuring band segments 8 can take the form of numerous other embodimentssuch as oval, square, cylindrical and others. The ends of the securingband segments 8 are attached to the upper inside corners of the fittedsheet 6 by a suitable means, such as sewing machine or hand stitching tocreate a looping device to be attached with the Velcro corner straps 4.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of a Velcrocorner strap 4 attached to a corner of a preferred sheet strap 2. TheVelcro corner straps 4 are constructed with Velcro and washable materialsuch as cotton, cotton blend, or polyester. The Velcro corner straps 4are attached to the corners of the sheet strap 2 by a suitable means,such as sewing machine or hand stitching. The Velcro corner straps 4 canbe rectangular in shape with dimensions of approximately 4 inch by 15inches. The shape and dimensions of the corner straps 4 can take theform of numerous other embodiments such as oval, square, cylindrical andothers. A fastening device such as Velcro 12 is attached to the bottomof the Velcro corner straps 4 by a suitable means, such as sewingmachine or hand stitching. Other fastening device such as a hook andloop fastener or buttons can be used in lieu of Velcro.

FIG. 3 of the drawing shows a bottom view of alternative sheet strap 14with Velcro 12 attached to the four ends. The alternative sheet strap 14has the same functionally as the preferred sheet strap 2 as depicted inFIG. 1. The alternative sheet strap 14 is constructed by joining tworectangular straps 16 in a cross position as depicted in FIG. 3. Thealternative sheet strap 14 is constructed with washable material such ascotton, cotton blend, or polyester, and with Velcro 12 segments attachedto the ends. Velcro 12 is attached to the ends of the alternative sheetstrap 14 by a suitable means, such as sewing machine or hand stitching.The Velcro functions as a fastening device to secure a fitted sheet 6 onto a mattress 10. Other fastening device such as a hook and loopfastener or buttons can be used in lieu of Velcro. The dimensions ofeach rectangular strap 16 are approximately 1.5 inches in width and 72inches in length for a crib mattress. The dimensions can vary accordingto function with other size mattresses.

FIG. 4 of the drawing shows a mattress 10 between a sheet strap 2 withattached Velcro corner straps 4 and a fitted sheet 6 with inner securingband segments 8.

FIG. 5 of the drawing shows a preferred embodiment of a fitted sheet 6with inner securing band segments 8 on top of the mattress 10. Themattress 10 lies on top and covers the sheet strap 2 leaving the Velcrocorner straps 4 exposed.

FIG. 6 of the drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the fitted sheet 6with inner securing band segments 8, mattress 10, and sheet strap 2 withVelcro corner straps 4 in a locking position. The Velcro corner straps 4extend up along the corners of the mattress and loop through thematching inner securing band segments 8 of the fitted sheet 6 to securethe fitted sheet 6 on to the mattress. The Velcro 12 at the bottom ofthe Velcro corner straps 4 functions as the fastening device to securethe fitted sheet 6 on to the mattress.

Once the Velcro corner strap 4 is in a folded down locking position themattress 10 is secured tightly between the fitted sheet 6 and thepreferred sheet strap 2. The alternative sheet strap 14 depicted in FIG.3 has the same securing method as the preferred sheet strap 2 and can beused in lieu of the preferred sheet strap 2. Once the preferred sheetstrap 2 is placed under the mattress 10 the Velcro corner straps 4enable to users to tightly secure and release the fitted sheet 6 on tothe mattress 10 without any lifting of the mattress.

FIG. 7 of the drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the fitted sheet 6in a folded down position to cover the folded Velcro corner straps 4 andthe mattress 10 after its inner securing band segments 8 are secured bythe Velcro corner straps.

Numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in theforegoing description, together with details of structure and function.The disclosure, however, is illustrative only, and changes can be madewithout departing from the principle of the invention. The scope of theinvention, therefore, is to be determined only by the following claims.

FIG. 2

The Velcro (12) is drawn with black lines and curves instead of graylines and curves. The gray shading of the preferred sheet strap (2) isdeleted.

FIG. 3

The gray lines and shading of the alternative sheet strap (14) areconverted to black.

FIG. 4

The fitted sheet (6) is drawn with stripped lines instead of grayshading. The gray shading of the Velcro corner strap (4) is deleted. Thegray shading of the mattress (10) is deleted.

FIG. 5

The fitted sheet (6) is drawn with stripped lines instead of grayshading. The gray shading of the Velcro corner strap (4) is deleted. Thegray shading of the mattress (10) is deleted.

FIG. 6

The fitted sheet (6) is drawn with stripped lines instead of grayshading. The gray shading of the Velcro corner strap (4) is deleted. Thegray shading of the mattress (10) is deleted.

FIG. 7

The fitted sheet (6) is drawn with stripped lines instead of grayshading.

1. A more secure and no lifting to attach sheet strap device.
 2. A moresecure and no lifting to attached sheet strap device in claim 1, whereinsaid sheet strap device is formed of fabric.
 3. A more secure and nolifting to attached sheet strap device in claim 1, wherein said sheetstrap device is generally rectangular with attached corner straps.
 4. Amore secure and no lifting to attached sheet strap device in claim 3,wherein said corner straps comprise of fastening means.
 5. A more secureand no lifting to attached sheet strap device in claim 4, wherein saidfastening means are formed of Velcro, hook and loop fastener, buttons,or tie strings.
 6. A more secure and no lifting to attached sheet strapdevice in claim 1, wherein said sheet strap device comprise ofrectangular straps attached in a cross formation.
 7. A more secure andno lifting to attached sheet strap device in claim 6, wherein saidrectangular straps are formed of fabric.
 8. A more secure and no liftingto attached sheet strap device in claim 6, wherein said rectangularstraps comprise of fastening means at each end.
 9. A more secure and nolifting to attached sheet strap device in claim 8, wherein saidfastening means are formed of Velcro, hook and loop fastener, buttons,or tie strings.
 10. A more secure and no lifting to attached fittedsheet with securing band segments.
 11. A more secure and no lifting toattached fitted sheet with securing band segments in claim 10, whereinsaid securing band segments are formed of elastic or fabric.
 12. A moresecure and no lifting to attached fitted sheet with securing bandsegments in claim 11, wherein said securing band segments are attachedto the inside corners of the said fitted sheet.